The course provides participants with a comprehensive grounding in the rationale and evolution of water stewardship to address shared water security challenges, as well as the principle strategies and tools used to implement water stewardship plans in practice. It will offer insights gained from our combined contributions to many of the aspects that make up water stewardship, including integrated water resources management, water risk analysis, water accounting, water policy and regulation and stakeholder engagement. Specific case studies will broaden the discussion of water issues from sector- or business-specific concerns to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and drivers of water issues across government, private sector, civil society and local communities.

Course sessions will include a combination of concepts, tools and case studies through both taught and practical sessions, through which participants will be able to discuss and compare their experiences. The course is designed to allow an ample and secure space for discussion of and expert feedback on participants' own experiences, strategies and challenges with regard to designing and implementing water stewardship for the diverse supply chains and contexts in which they work. Topics that will be covered include:

Introduction to water resources management and policy

Global water security challenges

Evolution of water stewardship

Water stewardship mandates, standards and guidelines

Water risk analysis

Water accounting

Scenario planning

Stakeholder engagement and influence

Monitoring and evaluation

Course Director and Teaching Team

This course is a collaboration between The Water Security Research Centre at the University of East Anglia (UEA), The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The teaching team is drawn from senior academic, research and policy staff covering a wide range of expertise and experience in water policy and practice in an international context. The course is hands-on, with a combination of teaching, discussion and reflection, as well as a toolkit of relevant materials to take away.

Target Audience

Water is a key element of any business supply chain, and can present both opportunities and risks for commercial ventures. The aim of water stewardship is to promote the responsible, sustainable and equitable use of water for business operations, and to encourage the business sector to contribute to collective water governance and conservation at the river basin or aquifer scale. This short training course is designed for professionals working in business, consultancy, government, civil society, and donor organisations who promote, design and/or implement water stewardship as part of their roles. This includes those who identify water risks to companies, who promote company engagement in water management, and who devise corporate strategies for access to and use of water resources, whether globally or locally, as well as those who seek to promote stewardship among businesses and supply chains. Participants will acquire an in-depth understanding of the principles and practices of water stewardship, including a command of the key frameworks and tools to define, measure and implement actions towards this end. They will leave the course with an ability to identify and to formulate strategies for good water stewardship in the context of competing demands among stakeholders, changing economic and environmental conditions, and complex supply chains.

Participants will also have the opportunity to substantially develop their networks and resource bases. The course includes an introduction to the principal concepts and approaches to water resources management and policy that form the background for implementing water stewardship. Potential participants who may be interested in a more comprehensive grounding in global water challenges and responses are invited to consider our Water Security Short Course for Professionals and Practitioners, which runs in the week prior to this course.

Course Requirements

The course is conducted in English. Full competence in English, written and spoken is an essential requirement.